Search results for "Island"

Seawater Trace Metals in acidified condition: an accumulation study in the blue mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis off Vulcano Island submarine vents (…

2013

SEDIMENTARY DYNAMICS OF THE MARETTIMO CONTINENTAL SHELF AND MARETTIMO CHANNEL (EGADI ISLANDS – WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN): ANALYSIS OF DEPOSITIONAL AND E…

2011

Sedimentary dynamics of the Marettimo continental shelf and Marettimo Channel (Egadi Island – Western Mediterranean), have been unveiled based on the erosive and depositional features observed at the seafloor. Different morphologic features were recognized through side scan sonar, multibeam and high-resolution seismics, acquired in the framework of national Research Projects (CARG, GebecSud, MaGIC) carried out by the Department of Earth and Marine Science (former Department of Geology and Geodesy) of the University of Palermo. Sediment samples have been also collected and analyzed. The Egadi Islands are part of the NW Sicilian offshore, and belong to the mountain chain that connects the Sic…

TRAVELLING TOWARDS AND FROM MINOR ISLANDS THROUGH NON-CONVENTIONAL AIR TRANSPORT: DEMAND AND COST ANALYSIS

2010

This research addresses the role of innovative forms of passenger air transport in favouring mobility of tourists visiting minor islands. In particular, we studied the feasibility of scheduled transport services using helicopter and seaplane for connecting Sicily in the south of Italy, to the near and very attractive Eolie Islands rapidly. In order to estimate the potential service demand, we allowed for the number of tourists arriving in the Eolie Archipelago during the period 1999-2008. In detail, we considered only the market of visitors with a high willingness-to-pay for time savings (individuals choosing superior hotels) coming from origins at least 300 km away from the Eolie Islands. …

Umanesimo della pietra/Humanism of the stone

2009

The Viticulture of Lampedusa, a heritage which is disappearing before being known.

2010

The study is focused on the viticulture of the island of Lampedusa, located in the strait of Sicily 113 km from the African coast and 205 km from the Sicilian coasts. It is a study that has no previous recorded documentations. The research was conducted on the island to a various number of vineyard farmers in order to describe cultivation techniques and the grape germplasm utilized. Viticulture is present on several tens of hectares but in recent years is vanishing quickly and currently survives thanks to a small number of old farmers who still practice agriculture. Moreover, the strong competition for land use strongly linked to tourism, makes the survival of farming in general even more p…

IoT monitoring of urban tree ecosystem services: Possibilities and challenges

2020

Urban green infrastructure plays an increasingly significant role in sustainable urban development planning as it provides important regulating and cultural ecosystem services. Monitoring of such dynamic and complex systems requires technological solutions which provide easy data collection, processing, and utilization at affordable costs. To meet these challenges a pilot study was conducted using a network of wireless, low cost, and multiparameter monitoring devices, which operate using Internet of Things (IoT) technology, to provide real-time monitoring of regulatory ecosystem services in the form of meaningful indicators for both human health and environmental policies. The pilot study w…

The agricultural heritage of Lampedusa (Pelagie Archipelago, South Italy) and its key role for cultivar and wildlife conservation

2011

As occurred on many other little Mediterranean islands, agricultural activity at Lampedusa (Strait of Sicily) underwent a very strong decline in terms of surface area during the second half of the last century. In particular, cereal crops have ceased and horticulture is disappearing, while vineyards still occupy a reduced area but are quickly vanishing and currently survive thanks to a small number of old farmers. Here are presented the results of a research carried out by interviewing seven farmers in order to study not only the techniques and the germplasm used in local viticulture, but also the final use of grapes and an evaluation on the connection between traditional farming and agro-e…

Spatial variability of ecophysiological performances and invasive potential of alien acacias (Acacia spp.) in Sicily and Lampedusa island (Pelagie Ar…

2012

Acacia spp. are among the most widespread and prominent invaders within Mediterranean-type ecosystems, where have already shown the capability to deeply change the characters and the functioning of invaded ecosystems (like in Portugal or S Africa: e.g. Holmes & Cowling, 1997; Hellmann et al., 2011). In Sicily, just in the last few years, two Australian Acacias, notably Acacia cylops A. Cunn. ex G. Don and A. saligna (Labill.) H.L.Wendl., started to regenerate abundantly within different areas (especially afforested sites). However their naturalization process has not been studied up to now.

Combining ecological engineering and plant conservation on a Mediterranean islet

2012

This paper reports the results of a bioengineering intervention within the Mediterranean Basin carried out at Lampedusa Island (Strait of Sicily) on the “Spiaggia dei Conigli”, the only sand shore of all Sicilian territory where the sea turtle Caretta caretta lays its eggs every year. The erosion of the steep slope over the beach itself caused sensitive changes in the grain size of shore’s sediment and reduced the area of the beach with fine sand suitable for C. caretta oviposition. In order to reduce surface water flow and to stop erosion, several bioengineering options were adopted using only native plant species to preserve local botanical heritage and to prevent the local extinction of …

Primo caso di naturalizzazione di Pinus canariensis C. Sm.(Pinaceae) per la Sicilia e prima stazione di Acacia cyclops G. Don (Fabaceae) sull’isola m…

2013

Nella Riserva Naturale Orientata “Foce del Fiume Platani” (Sicilia meridionale) sono stati registrati il primo caso di naturalizzazione di Pinus canariensis (Pinaceae) per il territorio regionale ed il primo di Acacia cyclops (Fabaceae) per l’isola maggiore. Vengono inoltre fornite informazioni supplementari sulla demografia e sulla distribuzione di entrambe le specie nei rimboschimenti dell’area protetta, nonché una previsione del loro grado di invasività alla luce dei dati scientifici già pubblicati. First case of naturalization of Pinus canariensis in Sicily and first population of Acacia cyclops on the main island. Both cases of naturalization have been recorded within the Nature Reserv…